Fluid-distribution device

ABSTRACT

A fluid-distribution device that includes a body defining a cylindrical chamber complementarily receiving a rotatable spool, the interior of which is divided into two passageways, the first having an inlet adapted to receive fluid and a restricted outlet, the second having an outlet which along with the outlet of the first passageway is directed to the discharge opening for the body. The body also is provided with sets of pairs of openings leading to containers adapted to receive material to be introduced into the fluid. An opening in the spool for each of the passageways provides a set of openings selectively alignable with the pairs of openings leading to the containers for thereby diverting water from the first passageway through the selected container and back into the second passageway for discharge.

United States Patent 1 Stuy ,m 3,708,122 451 Jan. 2, 19773,

[54] FLUID-DISTRIBUTION DEVICE [76] Inventor: Harry Stuy, 3377 LandenStreet,

' Camarillo, Calif. 93010 [22] Filed: Feb. 22, 1971 g [21] Appl. No.:117,653

[52] U.S. Cl ..239/3l7, 137/604 [51] Int. Cl. ..B05b 7/26 [58] Field ofSearch ..239/309, 310, 311, 317;

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1963 Palmer ..239/317X6/1938 Belmont ..239/3l7X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 703,628 5/1931France ..239/317 Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. AssistantExaminer-Michael Y. Mar Attorney-Gausewitz, Carr & Rothenberg 5 7]ABSTRACT A fluid-distribution device that includes a body defining acylindrical chamber complementarily receiving a rotatable spool, theinterior of which is divided into two passageways, the first having aninlet adapted to receive fluid and a restricted outlet, the secondhaving an outlet which along with the outlet of the first passageway isdirected to the discharge opening for the body. The body also isprovided with sets of pairs of openings leading to containers adapted toreceive material to be introduced into the fluid. An opening in I thespool for each of the passageways provides a set of openings selectivelyalignable with the pairs of openings leading to the containers forthereby diverting water from the first passageway through the selectedcontainer and back into the second passageway for discharge.

13 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENIEnm ems 3.708.122

SHEEI 1 [1F 2 Mmm HARRY 51W PATENTEBJAM 2 ms SHEET 2 OF 2 FIG. 5

INVENTOR HARRY STUY ATTORNEYS FLUID-DISTRIBUTION DEVICE BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention pertains to afluid-distribution device particularly adapted to divert water toselected containers for dissolving material therein 2. Description ofPrior Art It has been recognized that in a shower bath it isadvantageous to be able to introduce substances into the water. This maybe, for example, soap, shampoo, lotion, oil or the like. However, therehas been no fully satisfactory means for mixing such substances into thewater. One proposal included an elongated manifold having a water inletand a restricted outlet, with various containers attached to themanifold, each with a substance to be introduced into the water. Anindividual valve control was provided for each of the containers tocause the water to flow into selected ones for dissolving materialtherein and conducting it to the shower head. This device was quitebulky and relatively expensive. It was not simple to operate in view ofthe multiplicity of valve controls. Also, the various valves could beleft open inadvertently, there being no assurance that only one'of thecontainers was open at a time.

Additional prior designs are shown in US. Pat. Nos. 2,215,000,2,562,415, 2,602,697 and 3,349,788, each providing only a single chamberfor'retaining material to be dissolved in the water. In US. Pat. No.2,120,774, two; chambers are included, but the valve provides equal flowthrough both.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

The present invention provides an improved attachment for a shower bath,which allows appropriate materials to be mixed into the water, .whilebeing a compact and low-cost unit that is simple and foolproof tooperate. The device includes a body that defines a cylindrical chamberwhich rotatably receives. a spool that is controlled by an externalknob. The spool is longitudinally splitintemally to define twopassageways. The first passageway has a relatively large inlet openingat one end and a relatively small outlet opening at the opposite endproviding a restriction so that there is a buildup of pressure withinthe first chamber. The second passageway also has an outlet opening atthe opposite end, both of the outlet openings communicating with anannular groove in the exterior of the spool, which, in turn, isconnected to the outlet pipe that goes to the shower head. The showerhead should provide aeration of the water. r

In the intermediate portion of the body, there are outlets leading tovarious containers, which are adapted to receive the material to bedissolved and picked up by the water. For each of these containers,

there are two openings through the wall of the body.

material in the containers is retained in lightweight disposablepackages, which are reinforced by the containers that provide thestructural attributes to withstand the pressure of the water. Thecontainers are removable for replacement of the material to bedissolved.

While being particularly adapted for use in a shower bath, thefluid-distribution arrangement of this invention is usable in otherinstances where it is desired to divert a stream of fluid into selectedcontainers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING:

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:

The device of this invention is illustrated in FIGS.

along line 5-5 of 1 and 2 in association with a conventional showerbath.

arrangement, positioned upstream of the shower head 11. The device 10includes a tubular body 12 which at one end 13 is enlarged andinternallythreaded to mate with an end closure member 14. The lattermember includes an opening 15 that receives the end of a pipe 16 whichbrings water into the device 10. The pipe 16 extends outwardly from thewall in the usual manner for shower baths and is downstream of the hotand cold water valves (not shown).

The body 12 and the member 14 collectively define a cylindrical chamber18 which substantially. complementarily receives a hollow spool 19. Oneend wall 20 of the spool 19 is adjacent a radial end wall 21 of the body12, while the opposite end 22 of the spool is adjacent an annularshoulder 23 at the end of the chamber 18. The shoulder 23 and the endwall 21 position the spool 19 against axial movement. The spool 19 isrotatable, however, having a stem 25 that extends outwardly through anopening 26 in the body end wall 21, with a knob 27 being received on thestem to effect rotation.

' An internal longitudinal wall 29 runs thefull length of the spool 19between its end walls 20 and 22 as well as extending diametricallyacross the width of the spool. This forms a partition that divides theinterior of the spool into two passageways 30 and 31. A relatively largeinlet opening 32 in the end wall 22 provides access to the chamber 30 ofthe spool 19. Adjacent the opposite end of the spool 19 is a smalleroutlet opening 33 for the chamber 30. Diametrically opposite from theopening 33 is an outlet 34 for the other chamber 31. The openings 33 and34 communicate with an annular groove 35 in the exterior circumferentialsurface of the spool 19, which, in turn, connects to an outlet opening36 in the body 12. A pipe 37 is received in the opening 36 and connectsto the shower head 11. .O-rings 38 and 39 fit in small annular grooves40 and 41 in the spool 19 on either side of the annular groove 35 toisolate the discharge end of the spool. There is, in addition, an ring42 in an annular groove 43 sealing the end of the spool adjacent thewall 22.

Projecting radially outwardly from the central portion of the body 12are four short tubular elements 45, 46, 47 and 48 which are equallyspaced apart angularly. For each of these elements there is a pair ofspaced openings extending radially through the body 12. These are theopenings 49 and 50 for the tubular section 45, 51 and 52 for the tubularsection 46, as well as the openings-53 and 54 for the tubular element47, and openings 55 and 56 for the tubular part 48. At the outer ends ofthe tubular sections 45, 46, 47 and 48 are connected tubularenlargements 58, 59, 60 and 61, each of which includes a radial wall anda short externally threaded cylindrical portion. These are engaged bycylindrical canisters 62, 63, 64 and 65, which are closed at their outerends. Within these canisters are lighter containers, which may be ofplastic material, such as the container 66 shown for the canister 62.These containers are complementary to the interiors of the canisters.The container 66 is open at its inner end and contains a water-solubleproduct 67, normally in solid form. Typically, this will be a materialuseful in the bath, such as soap, oil, shampoo or lotion. Ordinarily,there is a different water-soluble substance in each of the canisters62, 63, 64 and 65.

On either side of the wall 29 and immediately adjacent to it are radialopenings 69 and 70 through the circumferential wall of the spool. Theopenings 69 and 70 fall in the same radial plane as the openings 49through 56 in the body 12. The opening 69 communicates with the chamber30, while the opening 70 connects to the chamber 31. The spacing betweenthe openings 69 and 70 is the same as that between each pair of openingsthrough the body 12 at the outwardly projecting tubular sections 45, 46,47 and 48. Consequently, the openings 69 and 70 may be positionedadjacent the solid portion of the wall of the body 12 as in FIG. 3 or,by rotation of the knob 27, may be placed in registry with any pair ofopenings through the body. In FIG. 6, for example, the openings 69 and70 are aligned with the openings 50 and 49, respectively, through thewall of the body 12. O-rings 78 and 79, recessed in the circumferentialwall of the spool 19, circumscribe the openings 69 and 70, respectively,providing seals at those locations.

When the shower is in operation, water from the inlet pipe 16 enters theouter end portion of the chamber 18 upon first passing through acylindrical screen 71. The latter element is removable for cleaning byloosening a screw 72. Upon leaving the cylindrical filter screen, thewater then enters the chamber 30 by flowing through the inlet opening 32in the wall 22. When the spool 19 is in the position of FIG. 3, with theopenings 69 and 70 adjacent the solid portion of the wall of the body12, the water can flow from the chamber 30 only through the outletopening 33, which directs it into the annular groove 35. The water thenis conducted through the outlet opening 36 into the pipe 37 that leadsto the shower head 11.

If it is then desired to introduce into the water material from one ofthe canisters, the knob 27 is turned so as to align the openings 69 andwith the openings in the body 12 that lead to the desired canister.Suitable indicia may be provided to assure correct alignment of theopenings 69 and 70, such as, for example, the pointer 73 on the knob 27and the indexing marks 74, 75, 76 and 77 on the tubular sections 45, 46,47 and 48, respectively. When the spool 19 is positioned, for example,as shown in FIG. 6, with the openings 69 and 70 in registry with theopenings 50 and 49, respectively, a portion of the water from thechamber 30 will be caused to flow outwardly through the openings 69 and50 to enter the container 66 within the canister 62. This flow of aportion of the water occurs because the outlet opening 33 for thechamber 30 is smaller in diameter than the inlet opening 32. As a resultof this constriction, pressure builds up within the chamber 30 so thatwater is forced outwardly through the opening 69.

The water flowing through the aligned openings 69 and 50 will circulatethrough the canister where it will Contact the material 67 within it,dissolving a portion of this material. The water then is forced throughthe outlet provided by the aligned openings 70 and 49. This directs thewater from the canister 62 into the chamber 31 of the spool 19. The flowis then to the end of the chamber 31, where the water discharges throughthe outlet opening 34 into the annular groove 35. This water, bearingthe dissolved material from the canister 62, mixes with the remainder ofthe water which has been conducted longitudinally through the chamber 30to its outlet opening 33. Consequently, the water discharged from thepipe 37 through the shower head 11 contains some of the material, suchas soap, oil, shampoo, lotion or the like, which was held in thecanister 62.

It is a simple matter to change the setting of the spool 19 so as tointroduce into the water material from any of the canisters. The knob 27simply is rotated so as to align the openings 69 and 70 with the twoapertures that communicate with each of the canisters selected. Thus,the device of this invention readily provides for introducing dissolvedmaterial into the water, or as easily causing the water to flow directlythrough the spool without contact with any of the material. When onecanister is selected, the others automatically are shut off and receiveno fiow of water.

When the contents of any of the canisters become exhausted, it is verysimple to provide a new supply. The inner container 66 and the materialto be dissolved 67 may be provided as a cartridge that is slipped intoplace after the canister is unscrewed from its mounting. The wall ofeach canister reinforces the inner container 66 so that the latter maybe made veryeconomically from lightweight material.

The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as givenby way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of thisinvention being limited solely by the appended claims.

lclaim:

l. A device for selectively introducing material into a fluid comprisinga body defining a chamber,

a member in said chamber,

said member having a first passageway and a second passageway therein,

an inlet means for said first passageway for receiving a fluid, anoutlet means for each of said first and second passageways, said outletmeans for said first passageway providing a constriction relative tosaid inlet means,

a plurality of containers adapted to receive material to be introducedinto fluid,

a duality of opening means in said body communicating with each of saidcontainers,

an opening means in said member for each of said passageways,

and means for selectively positioning said opening means of said memberin communication with said duality of opening means for each of saidcontainers such that said opening means for said first passagewaycommunicates with one of said duality of opening means for one of saidcontainers and said opening means for the other of said passagewayscommunicates with the other of said duality of opening means in saidbody for said one container.

2. A device as recited in claim 1 in which said chamber is cylindrical,

said memberhas a cylindrical exterior substantially complementarilyreceived in said chamber,

and said means for selectively positioning said opening means includesmeans for rotating said member relative to said body.

3. A device as recited in claim 2 in which said body has an outletcommunicating with said outlet means for said first passageway and saidoutlet means for said second passageway for discharging fluid therefrom.

4. A device as recited in claim 3 including in addition fluid conduitmeans one end of which is connected to said outlet of said body,

and a shower head connected to the opposite end of said fluid conduitmeans for discharging fluid therefrom.

5. A device as recited in claim 4 including a second containercomplementarily received in each of said first-mentioned containers,

and a water-soluble material in each of said second containers, saidsecond containers being supported externally by said first-mentionedcontainers.

6. A device as recited in claim 5 in which said firstmentionedcontainers are removable for allowing replacement of said secondcontainers.

7. A device as recited in claim 3 in which said body is provided with aplurality of radially projecting sections, each of said radiallyprojecting sections having a duality of said opening means in said body,said containers being carried at the outer ends of said radiallyprojecting sections.

8. A device as recited in claim 7 in which there are four of saidradially projecting sections and four of said containers.

9. A device as recited in claim 2 in which said member includes alongitudinally extending diametrical wall dividing said member so as toprovide said first and second passageways.

10. A device as recited in claim '9 in which said opening means for saidfirst passageway is a radial opening through the circumferential wall ofsaid member ad acen one edge of said wall on one side thereof, and saidopening means for said second passageway is a radial opening throughsaid circumferential wall of said member adjacent said edge of saidlongitudinal wall and on the opposite side thereof.

11. A device as recited in claim 2 including in addition indiciaexteriorly of said body for indicating the rotational position of saidmember within said body.

12. A device as recited in claim 2 in which said member includes an endwall, said inlet means for said first passageway being in said end wall.

13. A device as recited in claim 2 in which said member includes anannular groove in the external surface thereof,

said outlet means for said first passageway and said outlet means forsaid second passageway com" municating with said annular groove, saidbody having an outlet communicating with said annular groove fordischarging fluid therefrom.

1. A device for selectively introducing material into a fluid comprisinga body defining a chamber, a member in said chamber, said member havinga first passageway and a second passageway therein, an inlet means forsaid first passageway for receiving a fluid, an outlet means for each ofsaid first and second passageways, said outlet means for said firstpassageway providing a constriction relative to said inlet means, aplurality of containers adapted to receive material to be introducedinto fluid, a duality of opening means in said body communicating witheach of said containers, an opening means in said member for each ofsaid passageways, and means for selectively positioning said openingmeans of said member in communication with said duality of opening meansfor each of said containers such that said opening means for said firstpassageway communicates with one of said duality of opening means forone of said containers and said opening means for the other of saidpassageways communicates with the other of said duality of opening meansin said body for said one container.
 2. A device as recited in claim 1in which said chamber is cylindrical, said member has a cylindricalexterior substantially complementarily received in said chamber, andsaid means for selectively positioning said opening means includes meansfor rotating said member relative to said body.
 3. A device as recitedin claim 2 in which said body has an outlet communicating with saidoutlet means for said first passageway and said outlet means for saidsecond passageway for discharging fluid therefrom.
 4. A device asrecited in claim 3 including in addition fluid conduit means one end ofwhich is connected to said outlet of said body, and a shower headconnected to the opposite end of said fluid conduit means fordischarging fluid therefrom.
 5. A device as reciteD in claim 4 includinga second container complementarily received in each of saidfirst-mentioned containers, and a water-soluble material in each of saidsecond containers, said second containers being supported externally bysaid first-mentioned containers.
 6. A device as recited in claim 5 inwhich said first-mentioned containers are removable for allowingreplacement of said second containers.
 7. A device as recited in claim 3in which said body is provided with a plurality of radially projectingsections, each of said radially projecting sections having a duality ofsaid opening means in said body, said containers being carried at theouter ends of said radially projecting sections.
 8. A device as recitedin claim 7 in which there are four of said radially projecting sectionsand four of said containers.
 9. A device as recited in claim 2 in whichsaid member includes a longitudinally extending diametrical walldividing said member so as to provide said first and second passageways.10. A device as recited in claim 9 in which said opening means for saidfirst passageway is a radial opening through the circumferential wall ofsaid member adjacent one edge of said wall on one side thereof, and saidopening means for said second passageway is a radial opening throughsaid circumferential wall of said member adjacent said edge of saidlongitudinal wall and on the opposite side thereof.
 11. A device asrecited in claim 2 including in addition indicia exteriorly of said bodyfor indicating the rotational position of said member within said body.12. A device as recited in claim 2 in which said member includes an endwall, said inlet means for said first passageway being in said end wall.13. A device as recited in claim 2 in which said member includes anannular groove in the external surface thereof, said outlet means forsaid first passageway and said outlet means for said second passagewaycommunicating with said annular groove, said body having an outletcommunicating with said annular groove for discharging fluid therefrom.